These are the fastest growing cities in 2021: census data

(NEXSTAR) — Americans on the move are largely heading south and west, particularly to parts of Texas and Arizona, Census Bureau data recently revealed. Yet, while many cities and towns grew, some of the largest in the country suffered population losses.
Between the summers of 2020 and 2021, census data revealed that cities in these regions — eight in the West, seven in the South — had the highest population growth rates. Georgetown, Texas saw the largest increase with a rate of 10.5%. Located about 30 miles north of Austin, Georgetown’s population could double in less than seven years if its growth continues at the same rate, the researchers found.
About 20 km west of Georgetown is Leander, the nation’s second fastest growing city. A third Texas city, New Braunfels, which sits between Austin and San Antonio, also landed in the top five fastest growing. Five cities in Arizona ranked in the top 15 fastest growing cities, while Idaho, Texas and Florida each had three.
Here are the 15 fastest growing US cities:
Rank | Zone name | State name | Percent increase |
1 | georgetown | Texas | 10.5 |
2 | Leander | Texas | 10.1 |
3 | Queen’s Creek | Arizona | 8.9 |
4 | Buckeye | Arizona | 8.6 |
5 | New Braunfels | Texas | 8.3 |
6 | Fort Myers | Florida | 6.8 |
seven | Casa Grande | Arizona | 6.2 |
8 | maricope | Arizona | 6.1 |
9 | North Harbor | Florida | 5.5 |
ten | spring hill | Tennessee | 5.4 |
11 | Happy new year | Arizona | 5.4 |
12 | Port Saint Lucie | Florida | 5.2 |
13 | Meridian | Idaho | 5.2 |
14 | Caldwell | Idaho | 5.2 |
15 | Nampa | Idaho | 5.0 |
Comparing the total number of people moving in, the Census Bureau found that southern and western cities still had the biggest increase. Again, a city in Texas tops the list: San Antonio, with an increase of 13,626 residents. Close behind was Phoenix at 13,224.
Seven cities recorded both high growth rates and numerical growth: Port St. Lucie, Buckeye, New Braunfels, Georgetown, Meridian, Leander and Fort Myers.
These 15 cities welcomed the most new residents between 2020 and 2021:
Rank | Zone name | State name | Digital increase |
1 | San Antonio | Texas | 13,626 |
2 | Phoenix | Arizona | 13,224 |
3 | fort worth | Texas | 12,916 |
4 | Port Saint Lucie | Florida | 10,771 |
5 | North of Las Vegas | Nevada | 9,917 |
6 | Cape Coral | Florida | 8,220 |
seven | Buckeye | Arizona | 8,001 |
8 | frisco | Texas | 7,933 |
9 | New Braunfels | Texas | 7,538 |
ten | georgetown | Texas | 7,193 |
11 | Meridian | Idaho | 6,234 |
12 | Leander | Texas | 6,159 |
13 | Fort Myers | Florida | 5,891 |
14 | Denton | Texas | 5,844 |
15 | McKinney | Texas | 5,568 |
Among the most populous cities in the country, more than half saw their population decline between 2020 and 2021: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose and Indianapolis.
New York City, which suffered the largest population decline at 305,465, still retained its title as the most populous city. The Big Apple edged out Los Angeles and Chicago, with the list rankings remaining the same as in 2020.
Here are the 15 most populous cities in the United States:
Rank | Zone name | State name |
1 | New York | New York |
2 | Los Angeles | California |
3 | Chicago | Illinois |
4 | Houston | Texas |
5 | Phoenix | Arizona |
6 | philadelphia cream | Pennsylvania |
seven | San Antonio | Texas |
8 | San Diego | California |
9 | dallas | Texas |
ten | San Jose | California |
11 | Austin | Texas |
12 | Jacksonville | Florida |
13 | fort worth | Texas |
14 | Columbus | Ohio |
15 | Indianapolis | Indiana |
Seven US cities reached a milestone in 2021 and recorded a population of 50,000 or more. Among these are three from Texas – Kyle, Burleson and Little Elm. Also included in this core group are the Indiana cities of Westfield and Jefferson, as well as Lincoln, California, and Newark, Ohio. Six other cities saw their populations surpass 100,000 in 2021. These include Bend, Oregon; Fishers and Carmel in Indiana; and three in Arizona – Tuscaloosa, Goodyear and Buckeye.
The majority of cities and towns in the United States have a population of less than 5,000, according to census data, but they are home to less than 1% of Americans. Cities with 50,000 or more inhabitants – of which less than 800 – are home to more than 60% of the country’s population.
The reasons for demographic changes vary from city to city, due to housing costs, jobs, births and deaths. The pandemic and subsequent lockdown in the spring of 2020 made life in a crowded city less attractive for a time, and those who could leave, workers who could do their jobs remotely, for example, sometimes did. .
The Associated Press contributed to this report.